Jaw-brace.



L. T. LITTLE.

JAW BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.20. 1912.

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I abbomu Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

LEO '1. LITTLE, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

JAW-BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

Application filed January 20, 1912. Serial No. 672,509.

fl '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO T. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inJaw-Braces, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention relates to the art of dentistry and moreparticularly to jaw braces.

The invention has for its primary object an improved jaw brace which isof simple construction and which will be efficient in operation for usein bracing a patients jaw and in limiting or preventing any forwardmovement or protruding thereof, whereby, when impressions are taken forfalse teeth, the lower set will, when the jaws are closed, be in properrelation to the upper set, which is a distinct desiderat-um in theprofession.

It is well known that a person may easily cause the lower jaw toprotrude at will, but that it is an exceedingly difficult matter, if notpractically impossible, for a patient to cause the lower jaw to recede,and my invention therefore aims to take care of this factor bymechanical means whereby the lower jaw, when taking impressions will beheld in proper relation to the upper jaw, as above stated.

Another object of the invention and an object which is of no lessimportance than the object hereinbefore stated, is to provide a deviceof this character which may be'conveniently and readily used in cases offracture of the jaw, whereby the lower jaw of the patient may be held inproper position with the patients mouth open so that he may be fed, theinvention thereby doing away with the cumbersome gags or similar devicesthat have heretofore been used in the patients mouth, causing, as ismanifest, considerable discomfort. And the invention also aims togenerally improve this class of devices and to render them more usefuland commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,arrangements and combinations of parts that I shall hereinafter fullydescribe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a jaw brace constructed in accordance with myinvention, the brace being shown as provided with a head attachment apart of which is designed for use particularly in treating patients witha fractured jaw. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the device. Fig. 3is a detail view of the actuating rod of the appliance, illustratingparticularly the adjusting nut thereof and the universal joint or ballconnection between the inner end of said rod and the cupped chin rest.Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through the adjustable portion of thehead band. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the detachable interlockingconnection between the main frame of the brace and the pivoted rear barthereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred .to in the followingdescrlption and desig:

nated in the accompanying drawing by like reference characters.

My improved appliance for use particu larly by dentists, includes aU-shaped main frame 1 which embodies substantially parallel side rods 2that are integrally connected at their forward ends with a cross bar 3.Mounted on the side rods 2 are sleeves 4 which are connected to the endsof a transversely extending chin engaging member 5 which is in the formof a bar integrally connected tothe sleeves 4 and which is enlarged at amiddle point to form a cupped or dished chin engaging element 6. Thiselement is, in the present embodiment of the invention, formed with aboss 7 which is provided with a substantially spherical opening 8designed to receive the rounded end 9 of a longitudinally extendingthreaded actuating rod 10. The cross bar 1 carries a nut 11 which isthreaded on the rod 10, whereby, by clasping the milled or serrated knobor finger piece 12 secured to the outer end of the rod, the same may bemoved inwardly or outwardly as required to adjust the chin engagingmember 5 longitudinally on the side rods 2 of the frame 1.

The rear ends of the rods 2 are respectively formed with flattenedportions 2* each of which is provided with a key hole shaped slot 13designed to receive and detachably hold the headed studs 14 that areformed on the outwardly projecting ends 1-5 ofabail 16 which is in theform of an arched rod, as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

From as much of the description as has preceded it will be understoodthat in the practical use of the device for the purpose of holding thelower aw of a patient rigid 5 While impressions are taken of the gums,

the ends 15 of the bail 16 are pivotally engaged with the rear ends ofthe side rods 2 of the frame 1, whereby the entire frame surrounds theback of the head and lower portion of the face of the patient, and the;patients chin is then engaged in the cupped; chin engaging element 6 andthe actuating,

rod 10 screwed inwardly so as to press the patients lower jaw backwardlyor rear- 1 wardly to the required extent, it belng posi tively held inthe desired position.

In connection with the frame 1 and its pivoted bail 16, I use a headbrace which embodies a longitudinally extending curved spring bar 22which is preferably provided at its forward end with a laterallyelongated strip 23 adapted to engage the forehead of the patient, thespring bar 22 extending rearwardly in use over the crown 25 of thepatients head and downwardly at the back of the head Where it ispreferably provided with a corresponding laterally elongated brace strip24. I have found in my practice that the strain of the frame 1 should beimposed approximately at the lobes of the ears, that is, half Waybetween the condyle and the angle of the jaw, this being the approximatepoint of center as re gards the opening and closing movements 5 of thejaw. In order to secure this position, with heads of different sizes,the bar 22 is constructed in two sections as clearly illus trated inFig. 2, one section being slotted as indicated at 25 and being held inextensible relation to the other section by a set screw 26. The slottedsect-ion of the bar 22 is pivotally connected to the bail 16 at themiddle thereof, a crimped metallic strap 27 being used for this purposein the present embodiment of this invention.

When it is desired to use the appliance in treating patients who havesustained a fracture of the lower jaw there is employed in connectionwith the head brace, an inverted 5o U-shaped supporting member 17, .theside rods of which are threaded at their lower ends as at 18, saidthreaded ends extending through vertical openings that are formed insleeves 19 slidingly mounted on the side rods 2, the vertical adjustmentof the in verted arched or U-shaped bar 17 being accomplished by millednuts 20 engaging the threaded portions 18, as best illustrated inFig. 1. The cross bar 21 of the inverted U- shaped supporting member 17is pivotally connected to the spring bar 22 of the head brace in anydesired way.

In using the device in feeding or otherwise treating patients who havesustained a fracture of the lower jaw, the head brace is applied to thepatients head and the chin brace 5 properly adjusted to the chin, andthe nuts 20 are manipulated so as to maintain the lower jaw in properrelation to the upper jaw, whereby the patients mouth is held open bymechanical means without any effort on the patients part, and in factentirely outside of his volition.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple and eflicientdevice for use by dental surgeons and others skilled in the art to whichthis invention appertains, the device being capable of being easilymanufactured and readily adjusted according to the particularrequirements of the case in hand.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim is 1. A device ofthe character described, including a main frame embodying side rods anda cross bar connecting said rods at their forward ends, a bail pivotallyconnected to the rear ends of the side rods to freely swing verticallywith reference thereto, means connected to the bail for supporting thedevice on a wearers head, a chin brace carried by the frame, and meansfor adjusting said chin brace on the frame.

2. A device of the character described, including a main frame embodyingside rods and a cross bar connecting said rods, a bail connected to saidside rods, means for supporting said frame and the bail on a patientshead, a chin brace slidingly mounted on the side rods of the frame andextending transversely of the latter, and an actuating rod adj ustablycarried by the cross bar and connected to said chin brace.

3. A device of the character described, including a main frame formed atits ends with key hole shaped slots, a bail having headed studs adaptedto be detachably inserted in said slots whereby to pivotally connect theframe and bail together, a head brace connected to said bail, a chinbrace carried by the main frame, and means for adjusting said chin braceon said frame.

4. A device of the character described, including a main frame, a bailpivotally connected to said frame, a chin brace adjustably mounted onsaid frame, means for adjusting the chin brace 011 the frame, a headbrace pivotally connected to said bail, an inverted U-shaped supportingmember pivotally connected to said head brace and having downwardlyextending threaded ends, sleeves slidingly mounted on said main frameand nuts carried by said sleeves and having engagement with saidthreaded ends.

5. A device of the character described, including a main frame embodyingside rods, and a cross bar connecting said rods together at theirforward ends, a chin brace extending transversely of the side rods inthe same plane therewith and longitudinally movable 011 said rods, meanscarried by the cross bar and engaging said chin brace for adjusting thesame longitudinally of the side rods, a bail adapted to extend aroundthe back of the Wearers head and pivotally connected to the rear ends ofthe side rods to swing freely in a vertical direct-ion relative thereto,and means connected to said bail for supporting the device upon theWearers head.

6. A device of the character described, including a main frame, a bailpivotally connected to said frame, a chin brace adjustably mounted onsaid frame, means for adjusting the chin brace on the frame, a headbrace connected to said bail, an inverted U- shaped supporting memberpivotally connected to said head brace, sleeves slidingly mounted on themain frame, and a vertically adjustable connection between the ends ofthe supporting member and the sleeves.

7. A device of the character described, including a main frame embodyingside rods, a chin brace extending transversely of said side rods, andadjustably mounted thereon to move longitudinally thereof in the sameplane as said side rods, means for adjusting the chin brace on the siderods, a bail adapted to extend around the back of the wearers head andpivotally connected to the rear ends of the side rods so as to freelyswing in a vertical direction relative to the side rods, and a headbrace pivotally connected at its lower end to the bail.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. LEO T. LITTLE. Witnesses:

GEo. S. LIVINGSTON, FREDERICK S. S'rrr'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G.

